Synthesis of pure KTiOPO/sub 4/ nanocrystallites and KTiOPO/sub 4//SiO/sub 2/ nanocomposite powders by sol-gel method

Pure KTiOPO/sub 4/ nanocrystalline and xKTiOPO/sub 4/-(1-x)SiO/sub 2/ nanocomposite powders were successfully synthesized by sol-gel method using a homogeneous precursor solution prepared from (OC/sub 4/H/sub 9/)/sub 3/PO, Ti(OC/sub 4/H/sub 9/)/sub 4/, KAc and TEOS in 2-ethoxyethanol. The effect of solution temperature and the mole ratio of water to alkoxides on the organic precursors and the formation of KTP nanocrystallite were studied. The chemical bonds of precursors were studied by FT-IR spectra. The decomposition of gels was studied using TGA-DTA, and XRD. The DTA and XRD studies reveal that the precipitated powders and gel powders crystallized directly to KTP nanocrystallites above 600/spl deg/C in air. The crystallization temperature increases with increasing SiO/sub 2/ content. The particle size and micrographs of KTP nanocrystallites were examined by TEM.